COLUMNS

Staying Smart and Safe on Spring Break in Mexico

undefined and VP of Tactical Analysis
Scott Stewart
VP of Tactical Analysis, Stratfor

Mar 6, 2018 | 08:00 GMT

The touristy Grand Oasis hotel in Cancun was the site of a murder apparently related to organized crime in early March 2018.

A tropical storm in October 2017 bears down on the beach in Cancun, Mexico. The touristy Grand Oasis hotel in Cancun was the site of a murder apparently related to organized crime in early March 2018.

(ELIZABETH RUIZ/AFP/Getty Images)

Highlights

  • There are three general types of violence in Mexico, and all of them can intrude into tourist areas. 
  • Violence isn’t the only security threat, however. Travelers can also become victim to adulterated alcohol or ATM skimmers and shimmers.  
  • The good news is that if you understand the various threats, there are measures that can be taken to avoid or mitigate them.

Well, it's that time of the year again. Several friends, family members and even a Stratfor colleague have sought out my opinion on the security risks of spending spring break in Mexico. Some general guidance about planning a safe spring break can be found here, and I encourage you to read it in addition to this article. But based on the number of people asking me about spring break travel to Mexico, there seems to be a particular level of concern about the subject this year. And in fact, the security situation in the country has changed since my last dedicated piece on the topic five years ago....

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